1 Kings 1-8

Despite the detailed description, I have found it pretty much impossible to envisage what the Temple that Solomon built would have looked like. Normally as I read there is some visual image in my brain but here nothing. It sounds like the sort of place I would find too busy and distracting, and not at all inspiring, not that I would have necessarily been allowed in. Mies van der Rohe was on to something with his belief that less is more. And it gets me to thinking as to what a place of worship is. There is also mention of facing the Temple to pray on more than one occasion, not actually being inside it, and many beliefs have this idea of facing a certain direction or object to focus one’s prayers or thoughts. Focal points have stood the test of time but are they really necessary, and if so do they really need to be so opulent?